Collating-inserting machine



Jan. 28, 1969 w. A. oR'slNGER COLLATING-INSERTING MACHINE R. S m .wuwwwwww e m 0 R NNW m@ t .k )Nh w/ A nh x uw N@ M .Q 0 @hk my Filed Jan.18, 1965 Jan. l28, 1969 w. A. oRslNGER- 3,423,900`

COLLATING -INSERTING MACHINE Filed aan. 18, 1965 sheet ,a of u Jan. 28,1969 w. A. oRslNGER COLLATING INSERTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1965INVENTOR. h'zazz zagzzge By www ATTORNEYS United States Patent O y3,423,900 COLLATING-I SERTING MACHINE Winston A. Orsinger, Easton, Pa.,assignor to Bell &

Howell Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 18,1965, Ser. No. 426,229

U.S. Cl. 53-29 13 Claims Int. Cl. B65b 43/02, 43/44, 43/26 ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE Inserts from one or more magazines are deposited on va.track and advanced by a pusher toward an envelope drum which presents asuccession of envelopes into the path of movement of the inserts, andthe envelopes are entered by pick-olf and guiding fingers on asynch-ronized conveyor. As the inserts reach the end of the track,respective lugs of an overhead overrunning con- 'veyor drive the insertsinto the envelopes and then strip the lled envelopes from the pick-offconveyor.

the respective envelopes to operate for pushing the inserts 'from suchposition into the waiting envelopes. Consequently, definite limitationsupon speed of operation have necessarily Ebeen in effect.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved icollating-inserting machine operable without hesitations ordwells, but constructed and arranged to operate in a continuouslyflowing manner such that inserts and corresponding envelopes are broughttogether and the inserts filled into the envelopes while both are incontinuous movement. v

Another object of the invention is to provide novel lmeans forsynchronizing delivery of inserts and envelopes to a common fillingzone, and accomplishing filling of the inserts into the envelopes whileboth are in continuous onward movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved meansfor filling inserts into continuously moving envelopes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for bringing together inserts and envelopes from separate supplymagazines and filling the inserts into the envelopes while the envelopesconfinue uninterruptedly in motion toward a discharge point.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a new method offilling inserts into envelopes, attaining high speed and large volumeresults.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily -apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which: FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevational schematic or illustrativeview showing the several cooperative features of a machine embodyingfeatures Iof the invention;

' FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the continuously runningenvelope filling means of the machine; FIGURE 3 is an enlargedfragmentary detail plan view Pce of one of the envelopepick-off andinsert guide fingers;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the representative envelope pick-offand guide finger;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational ViewV of the insert feeding end portionof the machine; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantiallyon the line VI-VI of FIGURE 5.

According to the present invention, a method of llng envelopes withinserts is provided, according to which envelopes and inserts arebrought together in timed relation and assembled while movinguninterruptedly in a ow path. Although envelopes and inserts are fedfrom separate zones of supply, they are respectively moved toward aninterception and filling area or zone in the flow path where theenvelopes are, without pausing, successively prepared for reception ofinserts and movement of the inserts is accelerated and they are thrustinto the aligned, onmoving receptible envelopes.

For practicing the method, apparatus as schematically shown in FIGURE 1may be used. This includes means for feeding successive inserts from oneor more stacks, herein depicted as two such stacks contained in suitablemagazines 10 and 11 mounted at suitable successive intervals over aconveyor ta'ble 12 for reception of the inserts on the table and advanceof the inserts to an envelope feed device 13 which presents successiveenvelopes synchronized with delivery of the inserts to an envelopefilling zone where the envelopes are taken from the feed device bypick-off, supporting and conveying assembly 14 and the inserts insertedinto the envelopes by an inserting assembly 15 which has the dualfunction of then stripping the filled envelopes from the assembly 14 anddischarging them to a stacker or takeaway conveyor 17, or the like. Allof the insert and envelope feeding and assembly and filled envelopedischarge functions of the machine are carried on synchronously andcontinuously.

For feeding out or stripping cards C from the insert magazine 10, a cardfeed-out or stripper pusher 18 is mounted to be reciprocated by meansincluding a rotary cam 19 and a compression spring 20 adjacent to thebottom of the magazine hopper to engage edgewise with the successivelowermost cards C and advance such cards over a bottom gate 21 of themagazine hopper to extend substantially beyond the opposite edge of thebottom gate. Synchronized with such extension of each of the successivecards C as fed out from the magazine is a rotary deector cam 22 whichpresses the leading margin of the card against the perimeter of a rotaryfeed or transfer drum 23 mounted on a shaft 24 and having its perimeterdisposed to receive the leading margin of the fed out card substantiallytangentially. Rotation of the drum 23 is, as shown by directional arrow,in the feed-out direction of the cards C. Synchronization of continuousrotary movement of the transfer drum 23 with the card stripper 18 issuch that as the leading margin of each of the cards engages the drum itis engaged by gripper means 25 on the drum by which the card is clampedonto the drum for onward movement therewith. For high speed operation aplurality of the grippers 25 is provided on the drum at suitablecircumferential intervals, in this instance two such grippers beingshown as located at diametrically opposite portions of the drumperimeter.

In a practical construction, as best seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, thetransfer drum 23 comprises a pair of identical circular disks 23amounted xedly on a hub 27 attached corotatively to the shaft 24journalled through a bearing block 28 mounted on a supporting bracket orframe 29 of the machine at one side of the table 12. Each of thegrippers 25 comprises a pair of curved resilient strip spring lingers25a located at respectively opposite sides of the drum and preferablyalong the outer sides of the respective opposite drum disks 23a wherebyto be movable into and out of insert gripping relation to a respectiveanvil block 30 fixed upon the adjacent drum disk substantiallycoincident with the drum perimeter.

Each set of the gripper fingers 25a is mounted xedly and coextensivelyupon a respective rock shaft 31 journalled through the drum and havingopposite end portions on which the respective fingers are mounted.Normally each of the rock shafts 31 is biased to thrust the set ofgripper fingers 25a carried thereby into insert gripping engagement withthe associated anvil blocks 30. Such biasing is conveniently effected byrespective compression springs 32 in each instance thrusting at one endagainst a fixed bracket 33 secured to the outer face of the drum plate23a nearest the bearing block 28. At its opposite end, each of thesprings 32 thrusts against a respective thrust collar 34 carried by athrust rod 35 having lan end portion reciprocably guidedly extendingthrough the bracket 33 and having its opposite end portion pivotallyattached to one end portion of a cross arm 37 which is intermediatelyfixedly attached to the adjacent end portion of the associated rockershaft 31 and carries on its opposite end portion a follower roller 38which rides the perimeter of a disk cam 39 fixedly mounted on thebearing block 28. This cam is suitably contoured so that as the transferdrum 23 rotates with the shaft 24, the gripper fingers 25a are suitablycontrolled to be swung by the supporting rock shaft 31 between insertclamping position as shown at the top of FIGURE 6 and an opennon-clamping position as shown at the bottom of FIG- URE 6.Synchronization of the opening and closing of the clamps 25 is thuseffected with operations of the feeding mechanism 18 to clamp each ofthe inserts to the drum automatically as the leading margins of therespective inserts are presented to the drum. Each clamped insert isthen carried by the transfer drum 23 downwardly and into position overthe conveyor table 12 where, by opening of the clamp 25 the insert dropsonto the table between spaced guide flanges 40 (FIG. 5) with a forwardimpetus along the table and at substantially the speed of onwardmovement of an endless conveyor 41 provided with a spaced succession ofpusher lugs 42 which extend upwardly through the table to engage thetrailing edges of the successively deposited inserts to push them on inthe predetermined forward path along the table 12. Each of the pusherlugs 42 is so spaced along the endless conveyor 41 that it moves intoposition behind a freshly deposited insert in synchronized relation withengagement of the trailing edge of the insert with the table 12 andsubstantially coincident release from the engaging gripper 25, whereby asmooth transportation transition from the transfer drum onto thetransporting conveyor table 12 is afforded without pause, foron-movement in insert track.

An identical insert transfer drum 23' is associated with and locatedunder the insert magazine 11. Since the magazine 11 is intended forhandling document type inserts D of a thin and flexible paper type, apneumatic sucker type of stripper 43 is afforded which is mounted onmeans such as a bell crank 44 pivoted to carry the sucker 43 between aposition wherein it engages the leading margin of the lowermost insert Dinto a position where the sucker defiects the leading margin onto theperimeter of the drum 23 synchronized with rotation of the drum on itsshaft 24 t0 effect gripping of the insert margin between a set of anvils31 and associated gripping fingers 25 for transfer to the transporttable 12. Normally, the sucker arm lever 44 is biased into insertengaging position by means of a compression spring 45 thrusting thefollower arm of the bell crank against a suitable timing cam 47.

Synchronized with operations of the sucker 43 is a pivoted holdback arm48 actuated by a timing cam 49 to carry a holdback finger 50 intoposition under the next succeeding insert after the sucker 43 hasdeflected the lowermost insert toward the transfer drum 23' andmaintaining such holdback position until the lowermost insert has beenwithdrawn from the bottom of the stack in the continuing onward rotationof the transfer drum and until the sucker returns to engage and deflectthe next succeeding insert.

Although the insert feed mechanisms including the transfer drums 23 and23 are synchronized in operation with the conveyor 41, and thus whenboth running synchronized with one another collate the successively fedinserts C and D in the insert track, either of the tfeed mechanisms maybe selectively shut down while the other remains in operation with thetransport or pusher conveyor 41. Further, a sequential starting of theserially arranged insert feed rmechanisms at the beginning of operationof the machine may `be provided so as to attain complete collation ofinserts by initially effecting deposit of the first insert `by thetransfer drum 23 onto the transport table-conveyor to meet and becollated with the first insert deposited by the transfer drum 23. Thesesame principles of operation, coordination and synchronization apply forany number of serially arranged insert feeding mechanisms, greater thanthe number shown. In any plurality of the feeding lmechanisms anysuitable control means may be provided for coded selection, matching,sequence checking, and the like of the inserts, and lfor whichelectronic control devices and circuitry are available includingdetectors which may read holes, printed marks or other indicia, functionin response to color sensing, and the like. Means may be provided forremoving variable quantities of inserts from any selected insertmagazine hopper. Although a particular drum type of transfer means hasbeen exemplified in the insert feeding assemblies, any other preferredtype of -feeding assembly may be employed alternatively or insynchronized relation with the depicted structure and capable ofintegration in the continuous, uninterrupted flow insert transportsystem of which the conveyor table 12 and the associated track 40 andpusher 41 are functionally integral parts.

As the inserts individually or by collated groups are transported alongthe insert track, envelopes E are transported by the drum 13successively to the point of interception and filling therewith of theon-moving inserts. Construction of the drum 13 may -be similar to theSeparated twin disk structure of the insert transfer drum 23, but on alarger diameter to accommodate a larger number of envelopes.Synchronized operation of the er1- velope drum 13 in respect to theinsert feeding and transport mechanisms is effected through a shaft 51on which the drum is corotatively mounted for presentation of itsperimeter in uninterrupted on-running relation to the insert path at theforward end of the insert track.

At uniform intervals about its periphery, the envelope drurn 13 hasmeans for releasably gripping and retaining on the perimeter asuccession of envelopes to be presented at the interception and fillingpoint to receive the respective inserts or groups of collated insertswhile moving uninterruptedly in the onward or forward direction in thepredetermined fiow path. For this purpose, each uniform segmentalenvelope-carrying area of the drum 13 carries a set of envelope grippingfingers comprising in each set a forward envelope-bottom-margin grippingfinger assembly 52 and an envelope flap gripping finger assembly 53.These finger assemblies are mounted on respective rock shafts 54suitably journalled on the drum. Respective flap-receiving recesses 55are provided in the periphery of the drum in order to deflect therespective envelope flaps, identified at F, safely out of the path ofthe leading edges of inserts to be filled into the envelopes and to havethe fiaps serve as a lead-in ramp into its envelope in each instance aspresented for fil-ling. Further, in order to 4assure that the mouth ofthe envelope will be efficiently agape a breaker device 57 is providedat each envelope carrying section of the drum and operable to thrustagainst the back of the envelope adjacent to the hinges of the flaps Fwhile the respective envelopes are 'carried into the filling position,but remaining retracted at other times in the continuous operation ofthe envelope drum. Suitable actuating means, which may be on the orderof the actuating cam means for the gripping fingers of the inserttransfer drums, are provided for timing the operation of the grippingfingers 52 and 53 and the breakers 57.

At a suitable interval in the direction of rot-ation of the envelopedrum 13 beyond the filling zone, suitable envelope supply means areprovided comprising a magazine 58 having its discharge end suitablylocated adjacent to the drum periphery. In the magazine 58, `theenvelopes E are stacked with their front or address Afaces toward thedrum periphery and their closed ends oriented generally in the directionof rotation of the drum, whereby the open ends of the envelopes aredirected generally opposite to the druml rotation with the flaps F inthe usual loosely folded relation against the backs of the respectiveenvelopes. From the magazine 58, the envelopes E are Successively fed tothe drum 13 by stripper means conveniently comprising one or moresuckers 59 mounted on oscillating arm structure 60 operatingsynchronously with the drum.

As each envelope-supporting segment of the drum 13 move toward thesupply magazine F8, the gripper fingers 52 and 53 of that section orsegment are in the retracted or open position. At the proper moment thestripper 59 deflects the closed end portion of the endmost envelope inthe stack against the periphery of the drum 13 in position to be grippedby the gripping finger structure 52 which snaps into the grippingposition and in the continuing rotation of the drum withdraws thegripped envelope from the magazine.

Immediately beyond the envelope magazine, a flap opener 61 engages theenvelope and unfolds the flap F. In a desirable form, the opener 61comprises a synchronously rotatably mounted wiper finger having asuitably shaped lfree end portion which thrusts against the back of theenvelope in `a timed cycle tof rotation which carries the opener fingerin the direction of rotation of the envelope drum so that the openerfinger engages with the central portion of the back of the envelope andat least slightly depresses it to break it away from the flap. Then aheel portion 62 of the finger works in between the fiap and the envelopeback and `wipes the Hap open as the envelope is carried past the finger.This arrangement enables high speed operation and thus peripheral speedof the envelope drum 13 and smoothly transitional opening on theenvelope flap without damaging strain on the flap. This opener may be ofthe suction cup type if desired.

Beyond the flap opener 61, the envelope is carried past a stationaryholddown or plow 63 which prevents the flap F from spontaneous closinguntil an immediately succeeding flap depresser 64 can engage the flapand depress it into the aligned flap recess 55 in the drum Where theassociated flap-gripping finger assembly 53 then snaps into grippingengagement with the flap. Desirably, the fiap-depresser 64 is similar inconstruction to the liap opener, comprising a finger which is rotatablysynchronized with the envelope drum and having a free head portion 65which wipingly engages the fiap in the onward rotation of the envelopedrum and presses the flap into the recess 55. As the clamped flap moveson beyond the depresser finger 64, the depresser head `65 is receivedwithin the clearance between the side plates of the drum 13 anduninterruptedly moves on in the next rotary cycle.

As each of the envelopes E reaches the insert interception and fillingzone, it is taken from the envelope drum 13 by the envelope pick-offsupporting and conveying assembly 14 and moved, without interruption,onward in the path of and with the insert or inserts assembledtherewith. For this purpose, the assembly 14 comprises pairs ofcomplementary synchronously coordinated and coacting envelope pick-offand supporting and insert guiding fingers 67 (FIGS. 2-4) endlesslyguided in continuous cyclical circuits at a speed which is synchronizedwith the speed of rotation of the envelope drum 13. Convenient cyclingmeans for the fingers 67 comprise respective endless carrying members 68in the form of sprocket chains trained over suitably spaced verticalaxis sprockets 69 mounted on vertical shafts 70 and at least one ofwhich shafts is driven in the desired synchronized relation to the otherparts of the machine by the driving means which may derive power from acommon source such as a motor (not shown).

Each of the envelope entering and supporting and insert guiding fingers67 may be similarly constructed from suitably formed sheet metal in anelongated generally channel-shaped cross-section having its forward endshaped and constructed to facilitate entry into an envelope. In eachinstance, the finger channel opens laterally away from the supportingchain 68 to which the respective finger 67 is attached by means of abracket 71 which is preferably of generally U-shaped construction andreceives a hinge lug or ear 72 of a supporting block body 73 carried byear links 74 on the associated chain 68. A bolt 75 attaches the ear linkstructure 74 to the body 73 and secures fast to the body a bearing plate77 which projects into underlying supporting bearing relation to thefinger bracket 71 and on which the bracket is pivotally slidable about abolt-like pin 78` which extends therethrough and through the hinge ear72 and is secured into the bearing plate. Normally the finger 67 ismaintained in substantially parallel relation with the carrying link 74,wherein the yoke portion of the bracket 71 engages a stop shoulder 79provided by the hinge ear 72. This relationship is maintained yieldablyby means comprising a compression spring 80 which thrusts at one endagainst a rearward abutment extension 81 on the bracket yoke and at itsopposite end against an abutment extension 82 on the body 73. Swingingof the linger 67 about the axis of the pin 78 in opposition to the biasof the spring 80 is enabled by a rounded off clearance-bearing surface83 which leads from the shoulder 79 toward the yoke web of the bracket71.

A suitable number of successively operable pairs of the envelopeengaging fingers 67 is provided, in the present instance comprising fivesuch pairs. At its rear end, the assembly 14 is located in coordinationwith the periphery of the envelope drum 13 and in alignment with thefront end of the insert track in the envelope filling zone. Each alignedpair of the fingers 67 is carried by the -conveyor chains 68 in arearwardly moving outside return run and then the fingers are swungaround syn- .chronously with carrying of one of the envelopes E into thefilling zone by the envelope drum 13, so timed that as the pair offingers swings around forwardly it enters the gap in the envelope mouth.Thereupon, the closed end margin of the positioned envelope is releasedby snapping open of the engaging gripping finger 52 while the flapgripping finger 53 remains in control of the envelope until the pair offingers 67 has fully entered the envelope as shown in dash outline inFIGURE 2. As the fingers 67 assume the full forward projecting position,they exert a frictional retaining outwardly thrusting grip within theends of the envelope as safely permitted by the resiliently biasedyieldabiilty of the fingers toward one another through the medium of thesprings 80.

Within the engaged envelope, the fingers 67 provide, in effect, aninsert receiving funnel opening rearwardly. To facilitate reception ofinserts into the funnel thus provided, the fingers are desirablyprovided on their lowerl rear portions with cooperative respectiveguiding and ramp flanges 83a which extend into close proximity to oneanother over the envelope flap F.

As each envelope E is thus readied Without stopping in the filling zone,one of the inserts C or a collated group of the inserts C and D isthrust by the inserting assembly into the envelope. For this purpose,the inserting assembly 15 conveniently comprises an overhead conveyor orpusher including a flexible endless member 8-4 such as a sprocketconveyor chain having at suitable uniform intervals pusher lugs orfingers 85 and running over sprocket wheels 87 which mount the same toproject the fingers 85 into the path of the inserts in the insert trackstarting a limited distance from the front end of the forward run of thepusher chain 41 and coordinated with the pushers 42 to swing in behindthe latter and take over onward movement of the inserts for filling intothe respective receptible envelopes.

Desirably the speed of forward movement of the inserts is accelerated bythe inserting assembly 15 so as to overtake and enter the receptibleenvelope in each instance substantially coincident with full entry ofthe insert guiding and envelope carrying lingers 67 into the envelopeand with release of the envelope flap F by the gripping fingers 53 ormomentarily before such release. To this end, the interval between thepusher finger lugs 42 is sufficient to clear each of the successivepusher lugs 42 from the insert track before the next succeeding pusherlug 42 comes within range of the inserting assembly pusher lng 85intended to cooperate therewith to take over lfurther advance of theassociated insert or inserts. Furthermore, in order to enableaccelerated insertion movement of the inserts by the pusher finger lugs85 without disruption or damage to the inserts, the length of theinserting assembly conveyor chain 84 is sufficiently greater than thechain 41 and the spacing between the finger lugs 85 is sufficientlygreater than the spacing between the finger lugs 42 to swing therespective finger lugs 85 smoothly in behind and in overtaking relationto the respective pusher finger lugs 42 for smooth acceleratedoverrunning movement of the inserts along the balance of the inserttrack and into the aligned envelope E.

Not only does the inserting assembly 1S serve as the insert fillingmeans, but it also serves as means for stripping the filled envelopesfrom the envelope pick-off and supporting conveying assembly 14. Forthis purpose, the envelope drum 13 and the assembly 14 are coordinatedto run at a slower speed than the inserter assembly 15 and slightlyslower than the speed of the insert track pusher 41. For example, therelationship may be such that while the insert track pusher 41 travelseleven inches, the inserting assembly chain 84 travels thirteen inches,and the envelope drum periphery and the envelope pickoff and insertguiding finger chains 68 travel nine inches. In such cyclingrelationship, not only does the inserting assembly effectively fill theinserts into the successively aligned envelopes, but by having the chain84 travel in its forward run to approximately the forward end of thechains 68, a progressive forward stripping movement of the filledenvelope is effected by the respective pusher finger lug 85 which hasthrust an insert fill into the envelope. As the filled envelopeapproaches the forward end of the assembly 14, stripping from theassociated fingers 67 is completed and the envelope is ejected onto thestacker or take-away conveyor 17 to be transported to a stacker or otherfilled envelope receiver. While being handled by the delivery conveyor17, or subsequently, adhesive on the envelope flaps may be moistened, orif absent adhesive may be applied, and the flaps closed and sealed.

If the filled envelope has not quite left the fingers 67 when theirchain link couplings 74 begin to swing toward the return run about theforemost sprockets 69, yielding of the respective biasing springs 80affords safety relief enabling the fingers to remain in parallelrelation in the envelope without damaging it and until vthe enevelope isfully ejected. This feature is illustratively indicated in dotdashmanner at the left side of FIGURE 2.

It will be apparent that once the inserts and envelopes have beenrespectively fed from their supply sources, they remain continuously inmotion toward the delivery point,

not only while moving toward the interception and filling zone, but alsoduring filling of the inserts into the envelopes, and after theenvelopes have been filled. As a result, high speed and high volumeenvelope filling are attained.

Various attachments, accessories and safety or fail-safe devices may beutilized on or in association with the machine, in addition to any thatmay have been hereinbefore mentioned or indicated, namely, postage stampapplying or permit printer attachment, open window envelope attachment,insert nesting device, counting devices, and various other associateddevices such as insert and envelope miss detectors and rejectorscontrolled thereby, double envelope and insert detectors :and associatedrejectors, envelope or insert mutilation or jam detectors, and the like.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of filling envelopes with inserts cornprising:

moving successive envelopes uninterruptedly in a path 4to a fillingzone,

moving a succession of inserts uninterruptedly in the same direction insaid path to overta-ke the envelopes,

and while the envelopes and inserts continue uninterruptedly in motionin said same direction, filling successive inserts into successiveenvelopes.

2. A method of filling envelopes with inserts comprising:

successively stripping inserts from a supply of inserts and moving theinserts toward an interception and `filling zone,

successively stripping envelopes from an envelope supply and moving theenvelopes in substantially the same direction as said inserts to saidinterception and filling zone,

\while the envelopes are in continuous motion from said supply towardsaid zone preparing the envelopes with openings thereinto trailinfglydisposed relative to said direction of movement to receive insertstherein,

simultaneously moving said envelopes in said direction into said zoneand said inserts in said direction and filling them into the envelopes,

and uninterruptedly moving the filled envelopes in said direction fromsaid zone,

whereby the inserts and envelopes remain in continuous flow until movedin filled envelope relation from said zone.

3. A method of inserting inserts into envelopes comprising:

moving a succession of inserts continuously in one direction in a givenpath,

moving into a downstream zone and in the same direction in said path asuccession of envelopes respectively oriented in open ended receptiverelation to the successive inserts,

accelerating movement of the inserts in said direction and filling theminto the respective envelopes in said path,

and uninterruptedly lmoving the filled envelopes and inserts to adelivery point.

`4. A method of inserting inserts into envelopes comprising:

moving inserts toward a yfilling zone,

moving envelopes into said filling zone and in the same direction ofmovement as the inserts, accelerating the movement of respective insertsas they approach respective envelopes to overtake the envelopes,

inserting the inserts into the envelopes as the inserts overtake theenvelopes,

and continuing onward movement of the filled envelopes from the fillingzone at the accelerated speed of movement of the accelerated insertslled into the envelopes.

9 5. Apparatus for filling envelopes with inserts comprising:

means operable to move successive envelopes uninterruptedly in onedirection in a path to a filling zone, means operable to move asuccession of inserts uninterruptedly in said path in said one directionto overtake the envelopes, and means operable to fill successive insertsinto successive envelopes while theenvelopes and inserts continueuninterruptedly in motion in said direction. 6. Apparatus for fillingenvelopes with inserts comprising:

means defining an insert supply, means operable to strip successiveinserts from said supply and to move the inserts totward an interceptionand filling zone, means defining an envelope supply,

means operable to strip ene-velopes successively from said supply and tomove the envelopes to said interception and filling zone, means operablewhile the envelopes are in continuous motion with said envelope movingmeans to prepare the envelopes to receive inserts therein, meansoperable to fill the inserts into the prepared envelopes, and meansoperable toy lmove the filled envelopes from said zone, said insert andenvelope movin-g means and said envelope preparing means as well as saidfilled envelope moving means being synchronized so that the inserts andenvelopes remain in continuous tiow movement. 7. Apparatus for fillinginserts into envelopes comprismg:

means operable to move inserts toward a fillin-g zone, means operable tomove envelopes into said filling zone and in the same direction ofmovement as the inserts, means operable to accelerate the movement ofrespective inserts as they approach respective envelopes to overtake theenvelopes and to fill the inserts into the envelopes as the insertsovertake the envelopes, and means operable to carry the filled envelopesfrom the filling zone at the accelerated speed of movement of theaccelerated inserts filled into the envelopes. 8. In apparatus forfilling envelopes with inserts, means defining an insert track: meansfor supplying inserts into said track, means movin-g continuously in onedirection in said track vto convey the inserts uninterruptedly in saiddirection n the track,

means aligned with said track for delivering envelopesv into the trackin intercepting relation to the inserts,

means operative to prepare the envelopes for receiving the inserts andmoving in the direction of movement of the inserts,

and means operative to thrust the inserts from said track into theenvelopes while the inserts continue in said one direction.

9. A machine for filling envelopes comprising:

means operative to convey inserts runinterruptedly to a lfilling zone,

means synchronized with said conveying means for presenting successiveenvelopes for receiving the inserts thereinto,

and means synchronized to move continuously |with said insert conveyingmeans and said envelope presenting means to take the envelopes from thepresenting means and assist feeding of the inserts into the envelopeswhile both the envelopes and the inserts are in continuousunidirectional movement and then conveying the filled envelopes fromsaid conveying means and said presenting means.

10. In an envelope filling machine: a rotary envelope drum,

means operative to supply successive envelopes to said drum,

means on said drum releasably engaging the successive envelopes onto thedrum including means for holding 'fiaps on the envelopes open,

means on the drum active to cause the open ends of the envelopes togape,

means for.v conveying successive inserts substantially tangentially tothe drum and synchronized with the dnum to drive the inserts into theopen ends of the envelopes,

and means lsynchronized with the drum and said conveying means andoperative to enter the open ends of the envelopes as they are presentedby the drum for receiving the inserts and operative to assist inreception of the inserts into the envelopes and then to carrythe filledenvelopes away from the drum 'while theA inserts and the envelopesremain continuously in motion.

.'11. In an envelope machine:

a rotary envelope drum,

means operative to supply successive envelopes to said drum,

means on said drum releasably engaging the successive envelopes onto thedrum including means for holding aps on the envelopes open,

means on the drum active to cause the open ends of the envelopes togape,

means for conveying successive inserts substantially tangentially to thedrum and synchronized with the drum to'drive the inserts into the openends of the envelopes,

and means comprising continuously moving pairs of complementary envelopeentering and insert guiding fingers synchronized in operation with saidvdrum and said` conveying means and respectively entering the envelopesas they reach said tangential position for assisting in reception of theinserts into the envelopes 'while in continuous movement and thencarrying the filled envelopes from the drum.

12. In an envelope filling machine:

an insert track and continuously running conveyor,

means for supplying a succession of inserts to said conveyor,

an envelope Idrum to lwhich said insert track is tangentially relatedfor presenting successive inserts for filling into respective envelopescarried into filling position by the drum,

envelope-entering and insert-guiding fingers mounted to enter theenvelopes as they are carried into said position,

and means operative to engage the inserts on said track and acceleratethe same as guided by said fingers into the envelopes and then operatingto strip the filled envelopes from the fingers.

13. An envelope filling machine of the character described comprising:

an insert track,

a continuously running pusher operating in and toward one end of saidtrack,

a rotary insert transfer drum over said track,

an insert magazine adjacently over said drum and having means associatedtherewith for stripping and presenting to the periphery of the insertdrum successive inserts from the magazine,

means on the insert drum to grip the inserts and the drum rotatingcontinuously in synchronism with said pusher to deliver the inserts tothe track in the direction of movement of the pusher,

a rotary envelope drum located adjacently below said end of the inserttrack and toward which the insert track is substantially tangentiallydirected,

envelope supply means adjacent to the periphery of the envelope dnum andhaving means associated therelwith for stripping envelopes successivelyfrom the envelope supply means and onto the periphery of the envelopedrum,

means on the envelope drum for gripping the successive envelopesthereto,

means operative to prepare envelopes on the envelope drum for receptionof inserts thereinto,

an envelope pick-off and supporting assembly comprising a conveyorextending tangentially from the envelope drum in general alignment withand in the opposite direction from said insert track and including aseries of coactive complenmentary envelope entering and pick-off andinsert guiding fingers synchronized with said envelope drum so that aset of said fingers enters each successive envelope as it moves with theenvelope drum into alignment with the insert track,

said conveyor and envelope drum running at a slightly slower speed thansaid pusher,

and a continuously running overhead conveyor extending over the portionof the insert track adjacent to the envelope dnum and over said pick-offconveyor,

said overhead conveyor running in the direction of said pusher and saidpick-off conveyor at a slightly greater speed than said pusher andhaving a series of insert advancing lugs synchronized with the pusherand said envelope drum and said fingers and operative to engage behindsuccessive inserts advanced by the pusher to accelerate said insertsfrom the insert track into envelopes picked from the envelope drum bysaid fingers and thenoverrunning the yfingers whereby to strip thefilled envelopes from the fingers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,037,431 6/1962 McGihon 53--48 X1,421,835 7/1922 Russ 53-266 X 2,736,999 3/1956 Rouan et al 53-266 X3,217,464 ll/ 1965 Feingold 53-259 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE', PrimaryExaminer.

20 R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Exdmner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

